8. Chick-Fil-A

Chick-Fil-A has over 2,000 restaurants in almost all 50 states. Most locations will hire teens starting at 14 years of age. Bonus: You’ll never work on a Sunday at Chick-Fil-A. They’re closed on Sundays.

9. McDonald’s

I’m guessing there’s probably a McDonald’s restaurant near you. They have over 14,000 store locations in the United States alone.

You can start working at McDonald’s at age 14 at most locations. You’ll be hired to do various jobs such as serving, cooking and restaurant maintenance.

Ready for more ideas? Here are some grocery stores that will hire 14- and 15-year-olds.

Grocery Store’s That Hire at 14 or 15

These grocery store locations may hire 14- and 15-year-olds to work at their store locations. Know that state labor laws can have an impact on hiring age at all places of employment.

10. Giant Eagle

The Giant Eagle grocery store chain has over 400 locations in the United States located in five U.S. states. They’ll hire workers as young as 14 years old for various positions.

If you live in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Indiana, Ohio or West Virginia, you may be able to work at Giant Eagle.

11. Hy-Vee

Hy-Vee grocery stores have 240 store locations in the Midwestern United States. Some stores hire 14- and 15-year-olds and some don’t. Positions for younger workers vary.

Since each store is independently operated, the minimum hiring age is up to store management.

12. Giant Food

Giant Food has over 150 grocery store locations throughout Virginia, Maryland and Washington D.C. They hire workers as young as 14 years old in many locations.

Check with your local Giant Food store for details.

13. Kroger

Kroger has over 2,700 grocery stores across the U.S. They own stores under other names as well, such as Fry’s, King Soopers and Smith’s.

Some of these stores do hire workers as young as 14 years of age. You’ll have to check with your local store to verify whether they hire at 14. This is because each state’s lawn vary regarding hiring age.

14. Publix

Publix has over 1,100 grocery stores located in seven states:

Alabama

Florida

Georgia

Tennessee

Virginia

North Carolina

South Carolina

They do hire starting at 14 years of age for cashiers, floral clerks or service desk clerks. Check your local store for available job information.

15. Winn Dixie

Winn Dixie has nearly 500 grocery stores located in Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia and Louisiana. They hire for some positions starting at 14 years old.

See your local Winn Dixie to see if they have available positions for 14 year olds.

Entertainment Venues That Will Hire 14 and 15-Year-Olds

Many entertainment venues hire younger workers. Check out this list to see if there are places near you where you could work at 14 or up.

16. AMC Theaters

AMC Theaters has over 600 theater locations in the United States. Many locations will hire workers as young as 14, but not all locations.

Check with your local AMC theater if you’d like to work at a movie theater.

17. Six Flags

There are 25 Six Flags amusement parks and water parks in North America. You can work there as young as 14 years old.

Job positions vary by location and season. Contact your local Six Flags for more information. If you don’t have a Six Flags park in your area, contact your own local amusement park or water-park.

We have an amusement park where I live. It’s not a Six Flags park, but I do know they hire kids as young as 14 to work there. Most larger metropolitan areas have at least one amusement park or water park.

Check with Local Indoor Entertainment Venues

Many cities and towns also have indoor entertainment venues, such as:

Rock climbing centers

Trampoline parks

Indoor water parks

Bowling centers

Arcades

Laser tag centers

And more. Most are independently owned and not chains. I’d encourage you to call your local entertainment venues and see what their minimum hiring age is.

When I checked with local entertainment businesses where I live, several were hiring kids as young as 14. These venues are kid-friendly types of businesses. Therefore, I think they like hiring younger teens.

Now, let’s look at another income-producing option for 14- and 15-year-olds: starting your own business.

Businesses You Can Start at Age 14

Maybe, instead of working for a traditional employer, you’ve considered starting your own business. There’s no reason you need to wait until adulthood to become a successful entrepreneur.

There are many benefits to earning income via your own business as opposed to working for someone else. Here are a few of those benefits:

You control your income.

You’ll get fantastic experience in all aspects of running a business.

Gain confidence as you experience the ups and downs of business ownership.

You’ll be able to target the type of clients you want to serve.

You can control how big your business grows — or doesn’t grow.

Starting a business is hard work, but it also allows for a vast array of experience. You’ll learn what works — and what doesn’t — for the type of business you run. There are many invaluable life experiences to be had through entrepreneurship. Maybe now is the time for you to start having those experiences.

Here is a short list of business ideas you can implement right now to begin earning money on your own schedule.

Babysitting

Are there lots of younger children in your neighborhood or your family/friend circle? Why not start a babysitting business?

Of course, there are skills you should have if you want to be a babysitter. You should be good with children and like caring for them.

You also have to be mature and responsible. The most successful babysitters are the ones that both parents and kids appreciate.

Parents prefer babysitters who are disciplined with their kids and make responsibility a priority. Kids prefer babysitters who will interact and play with them.

You can advertise your babysitting business via social media, on a neighborhood app, or by sending out emails. You could also hand out flyers to neighborhood homes.

Spread the word by telling friends of your parents and family members you’re looking for jobs. Set your hourly wage beforehand so you know what to tell parents about your rates.

Many babysitters charge a higher rate for babysitting multiple children, too. If you like kids, this could be a great business for you.

Pet Sitting

Maybe you prefer caring for dogs and cats over caring for kids. Why not start a pet sitting business? Many pet owners go out of town for vacation or for work purposes. You could offer your services to care for their pets.

It’s important to note that some pet owners will only need you to check in on their pet once or twice a day. For instance, cats can stay home alone as long as they’re fed regularly.

However, dog owners may need you to take their dog into your home to watch it. This is especially true if they’re going out of town.

You’ll want to get your parents’ permission first before you offer that type of service. Choose your rates and advertise the same way you would for babysitting.

Dog Walking

Being a dog walker can be another good business idea. If there are lots of dogs in your neighborhood, you could offer to walk them.

Set your hourly rate and advertise to dog owners near you. If the dogs get along with other dogs, you could walk three, four or more dogs at a time. This will increase your income.

If you are good with dogs and can be responsible when walking them, this might be the business for you.

Lawn Mowing

Do you like doing yard work? How about starting a lawn mowing business? You’d have to get your parents’ permission to use their lawn mower first. Or you could buy your own.

If you live in a northern state where there’s snow in the winter, you could offer snow shoveling services as a part of your business, too.

Mobile Car Wash

One chore people have a hard time finding time for is cleaning their car. You could start a mobile car washing business and help them out. Here’s how that would work.

You would go to each client’s home to wash their car on weekends or after they get home from work. This is always a nice benefit for clients.

First, you’d clean the inside; remove garbage, vacuum it out and wash the inside of the windows. Then, you’d use the client’s hose and water, your soap, bucket and rags and clean the outside of the car. Be sure to bring towels to dry it off when you’re done, too.

Choose an hourly rate that ensures you make enough money to cover work time and travel time. Advertise your services on a neighborhood app, via flyers, or by asking family or friends for business.

House Cleaning

Are you good at cleaning house? If so, why not start a house cleaning business? You could go to a client’s home and do dusting, vacuuming and light clean up.

Or, if you’re great at organization, you could work with a client to organize their garage, basement or other parts of their home.

Choose an hourly rate and try to give a quote based on how long it will take to you do the job.

Mother’s Helper

A mother’s helper is a little bit different from a babysitter. A mother’s helper usually works when a parent is home. They’ll do various tasks as they help the parent care for the children.

They might clean up the house or do dishes. Or, they might play games with the children while the mom works from home. Each client will likely have you do different tasks so they can focus on their tasks.

This can be a good job for people who like kids but may not be comfortable being alone with them.

Task Runner

If you have a bicycle and live in close proximity to local businesses, why not start a business as a task runner. You could do minor errands and tasks for local residents, such as:

Small shopping trips

Trips to the post office or library

Small cleaning or other home tasks

Short delivery tasks

Or others. Just make a list of tasks you’re willing to do, and list your services on a neighborhood app or hand out flyers to neighbors. Be sure to have your prices set beforehand, or state that you’ll give a price based on the task.

Doggie Doo Scooper

Do you have a lot of dog owners in your neighborhood? Why not offer to make a weekly job out of cleaning doggie doo from their yards. The only tools you’ll need are plastic bags and a poop scooper.

I’d be willing to bet at least a few of your neighbors would pay someone to take that job off their hands.

These are just a few ideas of what you can do if you want to work at your own business. If you’d rather work for yourself than work for someone else, think about entrepreneurship.

Summary

If you’re under age 16, there are plenty of viable work opportunities for you. Just be sure you — and your employer — are following state and federal guidelines for youth workers.

If you’re under 16 and interested in working to earn money, consider the jobs listed above. Each type of job will give you valuable skills and experience.

Did you work a job when you were under 16? Or are you currently under 16 and working? If so, share your experiences with us on Facebook.

139 Comments

Josh Steinberg

Hey Laurie,

I like how you suggest ways to get a job AND start a business.

In my opinion, if someone young decides they don’t want to start a business, working as a waiter or waitress is the next best option. This way, you can earn commission (tips) based on your performance. This teaches kids how better quality work can earn them more money!

Getting a job at a young age may seem easy but it really isn’t. I have been looking for a jobs for weeks now and I’m starting to grow very tired. I got so close to getting a job at chick fil a. I did a interview and everything and today I found out the they gave another candidate the job. Disappointed, yes I am. But giving up hope, no I am not. I am very mature for my age, hardworking, out going, but trying to get my first job is hard. I’ve looked everywhere put in plenty of applications and much more I’m trying very hard.

It is not required at 14, but some places won’t , or cannot hire people without their workers permit.

Tommy DeMaio

Yes it does very much, I am a 14 year old whos trying to find work and I lived with my dad most my life not caring about anything then I moved in with my mom and i was poor last year and that put a number on me. idk what other peoples reason are for money but the most important part is save all you can because ive been looking for a job for months and still yet to have found one hiring 14 year olds so when you get a chance to make money dont push it aside you might never be able to make it again

I am 14 years old, I own 2 businesses both which just got over $10,000 in seed money! I also do stocks and make thousands every month(penny stocks that is) I recommend you start a a business cause it gets you ready for the real world and you employ yourself! I am very mature for my age so it’s a blessing from God to do this work early! This will change your life like crazy(Trust Me!

It is possible that a restaurant won’t hire below the age of sixteen for safety reasons. For example, if the open position requires handling dangerous materials, such as hot grease, they may not hire someone younger. The good news it that there are still other avenues for you to make money. We have several posts on our website about how teens can make money. Check them out. I hope they help.

You can’t get a job there by commenting on this post. You would need to contact them directly and apply. This post is just to let you know that there are places that will hire workers at 14 and 15 years of age. I hope you apply and get the job. Good luck!

Check out the ideas in this post, then, to help you out. In addition, we have other posts on ways kids and teens can make money. Be sure to look those over too and I hope you have good luck finding a summer job!

Check out the links in this post to see if you can find work. Also, we have other posts on our site you might take a look at. There are lots of different ways for kids and teens to make money. Good luck!

Yes, teens can sometimes get jobs working on either their own family farm or someone else’s, especially if they have experience. That’s a good point, although it may not be applicable for those in cities who lack the experience. Thanks for that comment.

You do not need experience to detassle corn- it was my first job more than 2 decades ago when I was 13 and I did not even know there was a such thing and lived in the city. Back then, my grandma dropped me off at a local Burger King where the bus would pick up all us kids that were detasseling corn. It was a pretty decent gig- definitely some work- but more money than my 13 year old self had ever seen! As long as you live in a state where there are plenty of corn fields (like Indiana), detasseling corn will always be an option!

It depends on the situation. If you are working for a company that hired you, then yes, I believe those employment rules would apply, assuming that is your question. However, if you have started your own business making and selling clothing online I don’t believe those same rules would apply.

Check out the ideas in this post to help you get one. We also have other posts about ways kids and teens can make money. Be sure to check those out as well so you can make money this summer. Good luck!

You could try advertising this to friends, family, or neighbors with pets that need extra care when they are working in the evening, weekends, or on trips, etc. Try giving them one experience free and if they like your services, ask that they consider you again for a fee. You can also ask for referrals and see if they will fill out a testimonial form that you create with questions about their experience. Then you can advertise to others with references and build your business. This is just one idea. I wish you success!

We do have other posts on our site with ideas for ways kids can earn extra money. You might also try babysitting or filling out surveys online – we have a post about survey sites that are for kids where you can make money. These are just a few of the ideas to try.

Check out the links and other information in this post to help you get a job quickly. In addition, we have other posts on this site that can tell you ways kids and teens can make money. I hope you are successful!

It’s hard for me to know your exact situation. I suggest you check out the links in this post to see if anything would work for you. We also have other posts on our site about ways kids and teens can make money. Check them out. Whatever you do, don’t quit looking for ways to make money. Something is sure to fit your circumstances and help you earn money. Good luck!

Hello, I am 15 years old. I live in northern California and we do not have any of these options available where I live, so these ideas are not a viable option. What do I do? I am in desperate need of work so I can help support my family.

You are to be commended for wanting to help your family! We do have some other posts that might help you out as well so be sure to check them out. Above all, don’t give up and if you have to, don’t be afraid to apply in person by going door to door to businesses. That sometimes works!

Check out the options in this post, then. That should help you get started. We have other posts on our site about ways kids and teens can make money, too. Be sure to check them out and I hope you are able to get a job for the summer! 🙂

That’s great that you’re trying to help out your family! Kudos to you! Check out the links in this post to help you out. We also have some other posts on our site about ways kids and teens can make money. You might want to read them to see if some of the ideas will work for your situation. I wish you luck!

You are to be commended for wanting to help out at such a young age. I hope this post helps you out with that. In addition, we have more posts on this site with ideas for ways kids and teens can make money. Be sure to check them out and good luck!

If I were you I would check out their website to see if you can apply online. In addition, I would go in to the one nearest you that is taking applications to make sure they received it. You may also get a chance to talk to a manager so they can see that you are responsible and ready to work. Good luck!

This post was written for you, then. Just check out the suggestions and links in this post to help you find work. We also have a couple of other posts on our site about ways kids and teens can make money. Make sure to check them all out! Good luck getting a summer job. 🙂

I have no idea. It is up to each individual employer to decide how much to pay and it can change at any given time. It also depends on your previous job experience and the demographic area you live in. The best way to find out is to apply or contact the ones you are interested in. Good luck!

Hi, I’m 13 and I need a job as soon as possible. I want to work somewhere, though. I wouldn’t like to be a dog walker or a pet sitter or baby sitter. I want to work or own my own company. Is this possible?

While there are ways you can make money at the age of 13, your options are limited by your age. As you get older you will have more money making opportunities open up for you. However, in the meantime, I suggest you keep searching for ways you can make money. You never know. You just might find the perfect thing.

My understanding is that it can actually vary by franchise and also by location. There are places that employ 14 year olds, although at times there are certain job duties they can’t perform (think working with very hot grease or fryers, etc.).

My name is Landon. I live in Florissant, Missouri. I’m 14 years old and I’m looking for work of about 18 hours a week after school. I’m a hard worker, dependable, and have transportation. If anyone is looking for an honest, hard worker, please contact me. Thanks. Landon Perry.

Hi, my names Jenni. I’m looking for a job so I can help out my parents, save up for the future, and put money toward adopting a dog. I’m 14 years old in November, and it’s been hard finding a place that will hire me because of my age. If you have any comments that will help me find a new job, please reply. Thanks.

I think it’s great that you are trying to help out your parents as well as make money for the future and your other goals. Try using the links and ideas in this post. In addition, we have other posts on this site that can help kids and teens to make money.

I do not know that answer. You should try going to Albertsons.com to see if you can find the answer. If you don’t, you can either email and ask them directly, or check with that nearby Albertson’s to find out the answer. If you go into the store, ask to talk to their Human Resources manager. Good luck!

We have other posts on this site that may also help. They are about ways kids and teens can make money, and I believe one of them is about online opportunities. Also, you might have to work on the weekends. Good luck!

I hope you get a job soon, too. Try using the information and links in this post to help you. We also have more posts on this site about ways kids and teens can make money that might help as well. Good luck!

I’m only 13, but I am interested in getting a job at either a retail store or a fast-food place near me. I found this post useful, and although I am not able to get a real job just yet, I will remember these places for the future. I was reading through the comments and I thought it was really great how you respond to every one of them, and it seems like your actually quite passionate about what you do here online, so I encourage you to continue to do so.

I am 14 looking for some of the jobs that are near me, and I couldn’t find anything except for Mcdonalds, and Dairy Queen I really don’t wan’t to do that cause I am a little shy about those things, but I like kids so I could baby sit, but I live an isolated area so its kinda hard along with me moving hear only a few years ago. I would like some help. How can I figure this out?

I’m 14 and planning on getting a job, but I feel I would look way out of place among much older looking co-workers. Also, even though many places can hire teens at 14, are they actually willing to do so or is it very rare that a 14 year gets hired.

I’m 15 living in Boston and I’ve been looking for jobs for a while I have a job as a youth organizer but i want to do something different. Everywhere i look i get no where can i get a little help? Thanks!